Getting Started with the Amazon Maps API v2

Introduction

With the Amazon Maps API v2, you can quickly and easily create mapping applications for Amazon devices. Your app can integrate high-quality 3D maps with fluid zooming and panning.

You can integrate the Maps API into your app in two different ways:

Code against Amazon Maps classes and methods directly. By using the Amazon Maps API, your app will be able to take advantage of new Amazon features and tools as they become available.

Migrate your existing Google Maps API app by making some minor code changes and then re-compiling your app against the Amazon Maps API. This option lets you use your existing Google Play-compatible code to create an Amazon version of your app for Fire phone and Fire tablet devices.

Regardless of how you choose to integrate Amazon maps into your app, your app can take advantage of these Amazon Maps API features:

Display high-quality 3D vector maps with fluid zooming and panning

Display standard, hybrid, and satellite map tiles

Use Fragments

Display location data

Handle user interaction with the map

Add markers to show a specific locations on the map

Draw polylines to connect two or more locations

Draw polygons to highlight a neighborhood or circle an area

The Maps v2 API is supported on the following devices running FireOS 4.5 or later:

Fire Phone

Fire Tablets (3rd Generation and later)

Earlier tablets do not support the Maps API v2.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before you can build and test your app, you need to set up your development environment by installing the following on your development computer:

The Android SDK

Any Android SDK system requirements, including the JDK

An integrated development environment (IDE), if desired

While you can use the Amazon Maps API with any development environment, this guide demonstrates using Android Studio.

Note: The Android SDK, Android Studio, and certain other development tools are provided by third parties, not by Amazon. Our links for these tools take you to third-party sites for downloading and installing the tools.

Coding and Compiling Against Amazon Maps Directly

In this option, you code and compile your project against the Amazon Maps API Support Library. You can then run your app on the supported Fire phone and Fire tablet devices and distribute your app in the Amazon Appstore for Android.

Migrating Your App from Google Maps v2

In this option, you make some minor code changes in your app and then compile your project against the Amazon Maps API Support Library. You can then run your app on the supported Fire phone and Fire tablet devices and distribute your app in the Amazon Appstore for Android.